ST. PETERSBURG -- Cardinals manager Mike Matheny issued the invitations to managers Clint Hurdle (Pittsburgh) and Fredi Gonzalez (Atlanta) during the offseason, and on Wednesday, Major League Baseball officially announced that both will join Matheny's All-Star Game staff.

Matheny, who will manage the National League club, has never participated in an All-Star Game before. This year's game is scheduled for July 15 at Target Field in Minnesota.

"I talked to some former and current members about how they went about selecting their staff, how they go about selecting the team, making sure I don't let anything slip through the cracks," Matheny said. "They basically said [to take] guys you have a rapport with and who you respect in the business. I feel that [Hurdle and Gonzalez] could add some value into helping us win this thing because it's not just a badge of honor anymore. It has purpose. And I think both of those guys are going to be extremely motivated to try and put the best product out there and help me through that game."

Hurdle managed the NL All-Star squad in 2008, a season after he led the Rockies to the World Series. He was also a coach under Jack McKeon in 2004. Gonzalez was on Tony La Russa's staff in '07.